Keep that hair silky, bouncy in winter

Dry scalp, dull hair, dandruff and excessive hair fall - all these problems besiege you in winter. And fretting and worrying can worsen things, say experts, claiming the problem can be controlled with the right treatment.

Dry scalp, dull hair, dandruff and excessive hair fall - all these problems besiege you in winter. And fretting and worrying can worsen things, say experts, claiming the problem can be controlled with the right treatment.The importance of hair can be understood from the fact that those with a receding hairline or bald patches are queuing up outside specialised hair transplant clinics and splurging on treatments.

Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told us "It is a temporary phase and people shouldn't get tense thinking about it because stress is also a reason for excessive hair fall.

"Flaky skin, frizzy, rebellious hair are common during winter, but it can be avoided and repaired."

To keep the tresses lustrous and bouncy, Batra suggests that one should "oil hair regularly".

"Winters usually bring fungal infections and dandruff. The fungal problems aggravate when people do not wash their hair frequently, when they do not oil their hair or let the conditioner stay for a longer duration.

"Another factor is that in winter usually people wash hair with hot water, but they forget that it is not advisable. They should wash hair with lukewarm water because hot water leaves the scalp dry," Batra added.

If dermatologists are not available, one can consult hair stylists who are trained and can dole out good hair care tips.

"Season change always has certain side effects. Be it monsoon or winter, it is a time when everyone needs to take care of one's skin and hair," stylist Raj, who is associated with Prince and Princess beauty clinic, told us.

"The number of customers with such complaints increases during winter. On a normal day, a fall of 50-60 strands is considered healthy. But during this season, a person can experience hair fall of more than 200 strands," he added.

If you can't afford professional treatments, you can go for effective home remedies, says stylisht Gaurav Sharma.

To get rid of dandruff, "use lemon juice, camphor mixed in coconut oil. People should apply lemon juice for 15 minutes and then rinse it. This is a very effective remedy. Lemons are easily available and are also cost-effective," he said.

"To get back the texture, wash hair with beer. It really helps bring the shine back and gives volume too," he added.

"Home remedies are the most effective. People who have normal but frizzy hair can apply mashed mango and mint paste. It brings back the shine and makes hair smooth," said Habib.

"People who have very dry hair should apply a paste of three bananas and honey and leave it for 50 minutes. It takes away the dryness and makes the hair softer. Lastly, for people who have oily hair they should apply a paste of mint on the scalp and leave it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly," he added.

Batra also advises a nourishing diet.

"As far as medicinal precautions are concerned people can take Vitamin H, calcium pantothenate and biotin. A lot of hair serum (like Livon) are also available in the market. It helps a lot in bringing back the shine."

"A rich diet of protein is what we recommend. For non-vegetarians fish and chicken helps. Vegetarians should indulge in soya products," he added.